After installing Vista Home Premium onto my computer, increasing my memory to 1.5Gb, and adding a new graphics card, the sound coming out of my speakers is crackly and distorted.

My sound card is connected to a hi-fi system which has been faultless in the past, but for some reason has become troublesome.

Basically when I turn on my computer the sound is fine, but then after a while there's a faint crackling noise that gets louder and louder before the sound just shuts off altogether. According to Device Manager, there are no device conflicts or problems. Sound only comes back on when I go to the volume control on my taskbar and move it slightly (but sound is then extremely bad quality, sometimes sped up, and often cuts off again).

Any ideas?? I heard it might have something to do with my screen resolution or something?

Some more information; sometimes when my computer is left for a while, the crackling is actually in time with the ticking of the Vista Sidebar clock...? And also gets louder when I scroll down webpages?

I have to keep restarting/rebooting my machine to get a couple of minutes decent quality sound!

Thanks for your help.

First, click on Start>Windows Update. Click on "Check for updates".

Second, recommend you click on the Mr. Driver link in my signature and check the status of your drivers. I suspect you need to update something.

Good Luck...

Thanks for your reply.

According to Windows Update, I am 'fully up-to-date'.

Have checked on DriverAgent and apparently there's a problem with my VIA Bus Master IDE Controller - 0571, and there is an exclamation mark (meaning a problem) with my Vinyl AC'97 Audio Device.

I can't find updated drivers for either device online. I have Vista Home Premium (x32).

I have updated my driver for my graphics card, but the problem still persists - still very crackly.

Can anyone help? Thanks again.

For VIA Bus Master IDE Controller - 0571 click on - DriverZone.com

Install the VIA driver, then reboot, then recheck Mr. Driver and report your findings.

Hello,

I followed your link, but on that page, clicking on the 'Downlioad' button takes you to the VIA website, and there's no driver to be found. Think they may have moved the file but can't find it.

Any other sources?
Thanks again,

Sorry about that. I didn't follow it all the way.
You should have more luck with this one - VIA Technologies, Inc.

Okay, that's all downloaded and installed. Thank you.
Been back on DriverAgent and it says I have a problem with my Vinyl AC'97 Combo driver;

"INCOMPLETE DETECTION - Driver Agent may not have identified this device accurately. Only update the driver if you are experiencing problems with the current one, and are absolutely sure that the new driver is for the correct audio chipset."

Do you know where I can find the latest driver for this device? I have version 6.14.1.4180.

Thanks again.

OK. Here is the deal. I feel that your sound problems are driver related. However, I could not find a Vista supported Vinyl AC'97 Combo driver. I did find a Vista supported Realtek AC'97 Combo driver. The hardware and software should be compatible. However, there are no guarantees.

Another option is to sign up with a service like Mr. Driver. They have back door access to vendors that we lack.

Or, you could just bite your lip until a Vista supported Vinyl AC'97 Combo driver is released. That could be tomorrow or next year.

You could, of course, change sound cards to a card that currently has Vista drivers available.

Well, those are your options as I see them. I'd go with signing up with Mr. Driver. I use them for my Vista PC. Since updated drivers are always being released, in my opinion, it pays to go with a driver service and it's a one time fee. But, the choice is yours. Perhaps another member of PCHF can give you another option.

Good Luck...

I had a similar problem, and i have to tell you that it is definately the drivers, and even if they say they arent compatible, still try them if it doesnt work you can still reinstall the other ones

This is the situation as it stands now;

ALL my drivers are up-to-date and working fine. No hardware conflicts or reported problems. However, driveragent shows an error with my Vinyl AC'97 sound device;

At the moment, when I boot up my machine, the sound is perfect. But after twenty minutes or so, it starts to wobble and becomes a little crackly. Then after about forty minutes the sound just cuts off completely. Adjusting the volume level brings it back but the quality is incredibly poor.

I was thinking- Is this really something to do with drivers, or perhaps is it something like a static buildup? It's just weird how it gets worse over time before cutting out.

I don't really have the money to sign up to a driver website (I know it's not much).

I've tried uninstalling the device and using a Realtek driver, but everytime I boot up my machine after uninstalling it finds the Vinyl device again, with no option to manually search.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated, and thanks for all your help.

Well, to test if it is static build up, unplug the speaker cable, then touch the plug on the side of the case, this will ground it and plug it back in

but since adjusting the volume brings it back it may not be, also have you run this mobo with xp before? if so did it work then given the age of some of the hardware im assuming you have

did it start screwing up just after installing vista?

and no , while you can search for drivers you cant select executables anyway

also, try it with some headphones, if it works then you may need to try different speakers

but as far as my experiences go, vista has absolutely AWFUL built-in sound drivers

Just tested for static and nope, still the same problem.

Yeah I've run this complete system (computer and speakers) with XP and it was perfect! There's nothing wrong with the speakers as it's rigged to a hi-fi system and sound from CD and radio is fine.

There's a headphone jack on the front of my computer too, and the same crackly wobbly sound comes out of that too, even with headphones.

It started screwing up after I installed Vista and installed a new graphics card (done at the same time).

I don't understand why Driver Agent is saying "incomplete detection" of my sound card though. It says that it has a driver available but I can't afford to pay the fee. Do you know where I can get the latest Vista driver manually from the VIA website??

Hey guys,

Still not managed to solve the problem, so reluctantly looking to buy a new sound card.

Please could someone tell me which ones are Vista compatible or point me to a recommended retailer? I have the MS-7061 motherboard.

Thanks for your time once again. I miss my music :'(